PokerRules

Table stakes: only what is in front of you plays

Cash game poker uses table stakes. You can only bet the chips on the table at the start of a hand. You cannot reach into your pocket mid-hand, and you cannot be forced out of a pot for lack of money.

Reviewed Oct 15, 2026

Answer first

90s

01Each game has a minimum and maximum buy-in.
02You can top up between hands, but not during a hand.
03If you run out of chips in a hand, you are all-in and play for the main pot.

Key numbers

Table stakes in four numbers

$1/$2Common gameNo-limit hold’em

$100 to $300Common buy-inAt $1/$2

40 to 100 BBTypical rangeMin to max buy-in

0Chips from pocketDuring a hand

In short

Key takeaways

Your bet is limited to chips on the table.
You can never be bet out of a pot.
Top up only between hands.
Taking chips off the table while staying is not allowed.

Cheat sheet

An all-in under table stakes

Glance the faces — compare in one second.

1You: $80 left
All-in for your full stack
2Opponent: $300
Can only win $80 from you
3Board
Your aces win the main pot

Buy-in ranges by game (common)

Game	Min buy-in	Max buy-in
$1/$2 no-limit	$100	$300 to $500
$1/$3 no-limit	$100	$300 to $500
$2/$5 no-limit	$200	$500 to $1,000
$4/$8 limit	$40	No max at many rooms

Every room posts its own limits.

Why table stakes exist

Table stakes protect players from being forced out of a pot by a bigger stack. If you have $80 in front of you, the most you can lose in that hand is $80.

It also keeps games fair and easy to track, since everyone can count the chips in play.

Main and side pots

Player	Stack	Can win
A	$80	Main pot only
B	$300	Main and side pot
C	$300	Main and side pot

The side pot is between players with more chips.

Topping up

You can add chips between hands, up to the maximum buy-in. Many rooms let you buy chips from a chip runner, who brings them to the table.

Cash on the table often plays only if the room allows it; ask first.

Sequence

Buying in at a cash game

Step 01
Check stakes and limits
Min and max buy-in.
Step 02
Get chips
At the cage or table.
Step 03
Place chips in view
Large chips visible.
Step 04
Top up between hands
Up to the max.
Step 05
Cash out when you leave
At the cage.

Going south

Taking chips off the table while staying in the game is called going south and is not allowed. It lets a player protect winnings while still playing short.

If you leave and come back to the same game soon, many rooms make you buy in for at least what you left with.

Floor rules

Table stakes terms

Know before you sit

Table stakes: Only chips on the table play.
Top up: Add chips between hands.
Going south: Removing chips while staying.
Side pot: Pot for players with more chips.

Online cash games

Licensed online poker sites use the same idea. You pick a buy-in within the table’s range, and you can set the site to top up automatically between hands.

You cannot add funds from your account during a hand.

Min vs max buy-in

Choice	Benefit	Drawback
Min buy-in	Smaller risk	Less room to play
Max buy-in	Full play options	Larger risk

Pick what fits your bankroll.

Must-move and new games

Busy rooms often run a main game and a must-move game at the same stakes. Players in the must-move game move to the main game when seats open, keeping their chips.

Your stack follows you between tables at the same stakes, so table stakes rules still apply after a move.

Common mistakes

Adding chips mid-hand: Not allowed.
Hiding big chips: Keep them in view.
Going south: Not allowed.
Buying in short every time: Can limit your play.

Keep reading

Go play

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After the 90 seconds

Questions before and after you play

A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.

01Basics

What is table stakes?

A rule that only chips on the table at the start of a hand can be bet. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

Can I add money mid-hand?

No. You can only top up between hands. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

Can I be forced out of a pot?

No. If you run out, you are all-in. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

02Buy-ins

What is a typical $1/$2 buy-in?

Often $100 to $300, sometimes up to $500. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

Can I buy in for less?

Not below the posted minimum. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

Is there a max?

Most no-limit games have one; limit games often do not. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

03Leaving

What is going south?

Taking chips off the table while staying in the game. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

Can I return with less?

Many rooms require you to return with what you left with. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.

Where do I cash out?

At the cage. Carry your chips there or ask a chip runner for racks if you have a lot.

Sources

Robert’s Rules of Poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Cardroom rules
Tournament Directors Association — Rules Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Related rules
UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER